The Behringer Powerplay PRO-8 HA-8000 Headphone Amp is a professional, high-power multipurpose 8-channel headphone distribution amplifier. It features 8 totally independent stereo high-power amplifier sections in one rackspace, 2 separate main inputs, 2 headphone outputs per channel and even a dedicated direct input for each channel. It offers the highest sonic quality with virtually all types of headphones, even at maximum volume.

I previously wrote a very positive review on this product concerning noise issues on various channels on this unit. I have as promised in my first review to report any negative reviews that I...Read complete review

I previously wrote a very positive review on this product concerning noise issues on various channels on this unit. I have as promised in my first review to report any negative reviews that I might find later during my testing of the unit, and I'm doing so at this point in time. The first tests I did were done in the first half an hour of starting the unit up, and at levels a recording engineer would listen at. The levels are between 80 and 90 DBs. Wlile listening at these levels during the first half of an hour from start up, there was no noise on any channel. However during the next few hours, the noise level on the channels closest to the transformer, became noticeable, but was not excessive. For those of you who choose to listen or monitor at greater levels, it might become more noticeable. Looking at the design as a whole, I decided to try something. I removed the top cover,and run the test again. With the cover off the unit, which allows the heat from the transformer to escape, the unit is as quiet as a mouse, with only a couple of DBs gain in noise, as you go to the very highest channels 6,7,8, even at extended volume settings. If you look at the unit, you'll notice that ther are no vent holes, and no way for the heat from the tranformer to escape. In my opinion, this is a design flaw. As heat builds up, resistance increases, causing the channels closest to the tranformer to have an increased noise level. Leaving the cover off, reduces the noise level by a bunch. Suggestions to the manufacturer. Move the transformer outside the unit itself, or provide the unit with vents to get rid of the heat. You've produced a very fine product, that has a design flaw, but other than that, I'de rate this product at the top of my list. Fix it, and help those of us who have in good faith purchased your product, continue, to give it a positive review.

VS

Most Liked Negative Review

Great price but one problem,

This unit has a great amount of channels for the price but the trade off is the very poor audio quality. Coming straight off my board the signal sounds great but after being sent...Read complete review

This unit has a great amount of channels for the price but the trade off is the very poor audio quality. Coming straight off my board the signal sounds great but after being sent through this unit it lost all low and high end. Good for loud situations where clarity doesn't matter as much but thats about it.

Nice headphone amp for the money. I've read a lot of reviews on this unit, and saw a bunch complaining about it being noisy. I have not yet experienced this issue. I find it to be one of the quieter headphone amps in my collection.

This unit has a great amount of channels for the price but the trade off is the very poor audio quality. Coming straight off my board the signal sounds great but after being sent through this unit it lost all low and high end. Good for loud situations where clarity doesn't matter as much but thats about it.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.I've owned this unit for over 6 years...it's gone through 3 different bands...hundreds of practices...tons of recording sessions...and now it's the primary headphone amp in our ProTools9 studio.

The channel 8 thing is true, but for some reason the excess noise problem didn't show up for a couple years. So what. There's still 7 good working channels. This unit might not be perfectly quiet, but it's quiet enough. I have to laugh at some of the reviews. What do you people expect out of a unit that costs this price?

When this amp finally rolls over and dies, I would not hesitate to buy another one. Best money I ever spent. I'd have given it a 10, except for the Channel 8 thing.Go ahead...find something with as many features for the money...go ahead...waste your time.

I previously wrote a very positive review on this product concerning noise issues on various channels on this unit. I have as promised in my first review to report any negative reviews that I might find later during my testing of the unit, and I'm doing so at this point in time. The first tests I did were done in the first half an hour of starting the unit up, and at levels a recording engineer would listen at. The levels are between 80 and 90 DBs. Wlile listening at these levels during the first half of an hour from start up, there was no noise on any channel. However during the next few hours, the noise level on the channels closest to the transformer, became noticeable, but was not excessive. For those of you who choose to listen or monitor at greater levels, it might become more noticeable. Looking at the design as a whole, I decided to try something. I removed the top cover,and run the test again. With the cover off the unit, which allows the heat from the transformer to escape, the unit is as quiet as a mouse, with only a couple of DBs gain in noise, as you go to the very highest channels 6,7,8, even at extended volume settings. If you look at the unit, you'll notice that ther are no vent holes, and no way for the heat from the tranformer to escape. In my opinion, this is a design flaw. As heat builds up, resistance increases, causing the channels closest to the tranformer to have an increased noise level. Leaving the cover off, reduces the noise level by a bunch. Suggestions to the manufacturer. Move the transformer outside the unit itself, or provide the unit with vents to get rid of the heat. You've produced a very fine product, that has a design flaw, but other than that, I'de rate this product at the top of my list. Fix it, and help those of us who have in good faith purchased your product, continue, to give it a positive review.

Having just received this pruduct, I'm not going to make too many statements at this point, however, there is one issue I'de like to address. Noise level on various channels. I don't think so at this point. I hooked the unit up with the purpose of exposing this excessive noise level. As a matter of fact, I almost, put it on the don't buy list, because of the negative reviews I saw posted. In other words, I checked it out from the word go, because I didn't intend to keep it if the negative feedback were true. So far, I've checked it out, at any listening level that,one who respects their own hearing would use, I don't notice any noise issues. The input cables were as about as cheap as you can find, and still no noise issues. Sonic quality at this point, is as advertised. You can bet if I do have any issues with this product, I'll be as quick to write a negative review as anyone else. Long term, who knows what I might find, but short term, I'm not seeing noise on any channel as an issue. I hope this helps those who may have considered this product, but avoided buying the product, due to noise issues posted. So far, if this product continues to work like it has in my initial tests,it's a great buy at the price I gave at musicians friend. If not, I also purchased a 24 month New ADH Warranty Replacement Plan, which should help if I'm disappointed, in the pruduct later. If I'm disappointed in either one I'll let you know.

For the price you really cant beat it. but its really hard to ignore all the static and extra noise that comes through his headphone amp. Its so noisey. If your looking for a clear and quiet headphone amp this is not what you want.

for the people experiencing a hum, check all powered sources that the amp may be linked to, i had a hum but it was just the stage light dimmer switch creating a disturbance with the fluctuation of voltage use. this unit is a great buy

I have had this unit for about 3-4 years now. Not once ever had a problem with it, and I usually stay away from ANY Behringer product. Never experienced the 8 channel hum as others talked about, this piece works flawlessly.

I looked at several headphone amps, and I needed more than 4 channels. I shopped here and elsewhere, and theres no other deal like 8 channels for this price.On my unit, I am not getting the 'buzz' or 'hum' reported by some folks on channel 8. (with or without anything plugged into the channel)This unit is working flawlessly, quietly, and efficiently with my recording and live setup, and I can use headphones or PEM systems with it. The tone out of this thing is rich and clear, and does not seem to add any color to sound. (Although headphones do.)I would reccomend this item to anyone that needs more than 4 headphone outputs, and the price is great compared even to most 2-4 output units.Hands down, best headphone amp ever. =)

I got one of these recently and have to admit I was worried channel 8. Now that I've had a chance to use it, I have to say it's a great piece of gear. It's true there's a hum on channel 8 if you just plug in a set of phones with no input, but when it's being driven by my mixing board, I don't hear the hum at all. I do voice recording, so there are lots of quiet spots. I expect the hum would still be there if I hung a 'scope probe off it, but in practical use all 8 channels are completely usable for me. Admittedly, my requirements are specialized; in my application actors just have to be able to hear themselves talk at levels high enough to down out their "inner sound" so they can work effectively into the mic. And I specifically don't want individuals changing the EQ I set on the board (like the HA4700 allows.)